Top

It
J^,M .. .
TITE LIBRARY
BRIGHAM YGUAG LNIV- srry
PROVO, UTM.
Do Net
Circulate
1^'
/
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Brigham Young University
http://www.archive.org/details/braytonhomesteadOObray
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
<
r"
en
a
" >
2 c
H O
> 1-
< u«
as ■— •
2Q
a
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
1714 — 1914
A Sketch by
Elizabeth Hitchcock Brayton
Printed for Private Circulation
1914
nniGiuM YouKG LNivERsrrr
PROVO, LTAII
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
1714 — 1914
This is the place. Stand still, my steed,
Let me review the scene.
And summon from the shadowy Past,
The forms that once have been.
Longfellow.
Within the archives of the Town Clerk's
office in Somerset is preserved a chart, made
about 1695, showing the first divisions of the
land in Shawomet, an Indian name by wliich
this territorv was first known to the white
man. Two hundred years have passed since
the deed of a part of this land, which today we
term, with much affection, "The Brayton
Homestead," came into the Brayton name;
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
yet how little do we know of its story or of the
people who have tilled its soil!
Although we are familiar with the history
of New England, and the growth of her colo-
nies, it seems necessary to note a few of its
incidents that we may more readily trace the
transfer of this land from the Indians to om*
ancestors.
After the outbreak of King Phihp 's War a
succession of battles followed, and the blood
of the red men, so thoroughly aroused, led
them to deeds of most atrocious barbarity.
King Phihp, the greatest of Indian warriors,
was slain in the summer of 1676 and a few
weeks later the most desperate of all Indian
conflicts ended. The consequences of this
war were disastrous and far-reaching. Six
hundred of the inhabitants were either killed
in battle or murdered by the enemy, and, in
addition, an enormous debt was contracted,
twelve towns were destroyed, and about six
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
hundred buildings, including tliirty-four dwell-
ings in the town of Swansey, were burned.
Only six houses now remained in that town,
and so reduced was it that it was described as
"desolate as a wilderness," and so near was
the land in Shawomet about which this ar-
ticle is written, that we must picture it near
the route of travel during this fierce and
bloody warfare.
The General Court of Plymouth, reahzing
the heavy debt incurred by tliis war, not only
to the several towns so closelv connected with
it, but to the government also, and not being
able to meet the debt, issued the following
order, made at its second session held on the
tliirteenth dav of Julv 1677: —
"Whereas the late war has been very chargeable to
the several towns of this government, and many debts
occasioned thereby are still due, this court, consider-
ing that, by the good providence of Clod, there are sev-
eral tracts of conquered lands, do therefore order, that
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Showmett lands and Assonett shall be sold to defray
the present debts, and that all other such lands shall
be either sold, if chapmen appear to buy them, within
a year or two, so as to settle plantations thereon in an
orderly way, to promote the pubUc worship of God,
and our own common good; and the produce thereof
shedl be divided to the several towns in this govern-
ment, according to their different disbursements to-
ward the aforesaid war, and what of the aforesaid
lands shall then remain unsold shall be divided to
every one of our towns, their part according to the
rate aforementioned ; also, the committee to make
sale as aforesaid shall give account of any their
actings therein, to the next General Court after such
their actings. "
At a much earlier date, the Plymouth
Government had promoted the organization
of companies called Proprietors, who were
given the power to buy lands and to sell and
divide such lands among themselves by mu-
tual agreement. These companies of Proprie-
tors were required to elect one of their number
to act as clerk to keep a book of records in
8
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
which the various divisions of their lands must
be recorded in the prescribed legal form.
"These entries thus became permanent rec-
ords of real estate, to be transmitted and re-
main to posteritie. " To a company of hke
Proprietors were sold the Shawomet lands,
which we today bound on the south by Mount
Hope Bay, on the west by Lees River and the
town of Swansea, on the north by Dighton,
and on the east by Taunton River, which ter-
ritory includes the present town of Somerset.
In Somerset will be found the original book
of records of the Proprietors of the Shawomet
Purchase upon whose title page we read as
follows : —
"The Book of Records of Shawomat Lands Belonging
to ye
Purchasars of ye said Shawomat Neck and ye
Other Lands partaining to ye said
Neck Caled The Out Let.
This Book was Begun in ye yeare 1680. By
Increase Robinson
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Clark ffor The Said Purchasars.
The grand Deed of the sale of Showamett lands
is committed to
Capt John Willyames to be kept by him
for the
use of the Proprietors of sd lands
so long as they see cause,
Attest.
Saml. Sprague Clerk. "
The Proprietors divided the Shawomet Pur-
chase into tliree parts or sections, namely: —
The Little or Boston Neck, which em-
braced, approximately, what is now known
as Brayton Point Farm; the Great Neck,
which extended northerly to the road now
known as Read Street; and the Out Let
Lands, which extended from this boundary,
northerly to the Taunton land, now Dighton.
At the first meeting of the Proprietors, held at
Plymouth March 6, 1677, by a joint agreement
it was voted that each of these divisions
should be laid out into thirtv and one shares
10
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
or lots, one of which should be in a convenient
place for the use of the ministry. " As alsoe it
is Agreed that three men be chose to be a
Committee who shall have power to order
such prudentialls as are necessary for the good
of the whole Societie as to the setthng the
bounds between theire lands and the lands of
Swanzy in the best way they Can and to pro-
cure an Artist to survey said lands to be lotted
out and to lay them out as aforesaid ; making
such allowance in quantity to such shares as
shall not fall out to be so good land as the
other shares are and also to lay out such Con-
venient highways as on theire View and sur-
vey shall to them seeme most convenient."
Captain John Wilhams, Isaac Little, and
Thomas Lincoln were chosen to serve on this
committee and accordingly the divisions of
the land were made, each lot in the Little
Neck containing five acres, each in the Great
Neck forty-five acres and each in the Out Let
11
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
tliirty-six acres. This article calls your atten-
tion to the lots numbered 11, 12, and 13, in the
division of the Great Neck, and the chart
shows the original owners of them, no one
of whom became a permanent resident upon
the land allotted to him.
In 1692, the first transfer of these lots is
recorded, when John WilHams, in consider-
ation of one lot lying at a place called Labor
in Vain, another lot in the Little Neck of
Shawomet, and forty pounds of current money
of New England, exchanged liis lots, num-
bered 7 and 12 in the Great Neck, with
Wilham Slead, who, about 1680, had come
from Rhode Island and purchased land in the
Out Let division. During tliis same year,
1692, Isaac Little exchanged his original lot,
numbered 8, and took in its place lot num-
bered 12, which William Slead had recently
acquired from John WiUiams. There are no
deeds recorded of many of the transfers of the
12
First Road
Taunton River
Chart
As described on page 12
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
lots in Shawomet. Mallachy Hollaway ap-
parently did not claim liis original lot num-
bered 10, for in 1698, after the Agents of the
Proprietors had made a new sm*vey of the un-
divided and unclaimed lands in the Great
Neck, this lot came into the possession of
Isaac Little and WiUiam Slead by allotment,
the title being transferred from Mallachy
Hollaway to them. In the same way Wilham
Slead acquired the title to lot numbered 9,
originally in the name of Edward Gray.
The Shawomet records tell us that "The
Seventh, Eighth, ninth and half the tenth
Lott, All belonging to one man, are eighty
two pole Broad at ye head to a stake & stones
in the middle of ye head of ye tenth Lott at ye
liighway from thence Ranging South Sixty
three Degrees & a half Easterly to a heap of
stones in ye middle of ye ffoot of ye said tenth
lott near ye Beach." This must have been
the farm owned by William Slead. "The
13
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
other half of the tenth and ye eleventh &
twelfth Lott all belonging to one man are
fifty eight pole and a half Broad at the head
to a white oak tree marked XH standing by
ye Highway from thence ye range between
the twelfth & the 13th lots runs South
Degrees Easterly to a heap of stones by a
tree marked at ye Beach." This was the
farm belonging to Isaac Little. He also ac-
quired in 1698, by allotment, the north half
of lot 13 originally belonging to Richard
Winslow and in 1711 John Briggs sold the
south half of this lot 13 to WiUiam Slead.
Isaac Little, who died in Marshfield Nov-
ember 24, 1699, left no will, but in the dis-
position of his estate in 1712 this land in
Shawomet was assigned to his sons Nathan-
iel and Wilham Little. In 1713, Nathaniel
Little of Plymouth, mariner, made his brother
Wilham his attorney and at an early date
William Little proceeded to sell their farm in
14
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Shawomet to Preserved Brayton of Ports-
mouth, Rhode Island, grandson of Francis
Brayton the pioneer of that name in America.
The first definite agreement in regard to
his pm*chase of this farm of one hundred and
thirty-eight acres from Wilham Little was
embodied in the articles drawn up and signed
July 21, 1714, the legible part of which reads
as follows: —
Articles of Agreement made & concluded this
21st day of July Anno Domini 1714 between William
Little of Plimouth in ye County of Plimouth of y«
one part and preserved Brayton of Portsmouth in
Rhoad Island on the other part Witnesseth that the
said William Little doth Covenant and Bind and
oblidge himself to give or pass : On or before the first
day of march Next ensueing a suffecient Lawfull deed
and Conveyance of a certain ffarm or Tract of land
lyeing in Shawomett in y'^ Township of Swanzey lye-
ing between ]VP Slads farm whereon he now Dwells
and M"^ Daniel Wilbores Containing about one hun-
dred and Thirty seven (or Thirty Eight) acres and of
one share or Right in the Eighty acres of land layd
out for the Use of a minister or Publick use of the Pro-
15
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
prietty in s'^ Shawomet to y« true performance of the
above coven* on his part the s'^ Little doth bind him-
self & his heires in the penal sum of fifteen Hundred
pounds to be forfeited on failure therein & payd to the
s'^ Brayton his heires executors or Adminitr^: And
the said Preserved Brayton on the other part doth
Covenant bind & oblige himself his heires executors &
Adm" to pay or cause to be payd & delivered unto the
said William Little his heires exect' Adm- or assignes
One Black Stallion agreed for and valued at Twenty
pounds money and fifty pounds money three days
from the date hereof & Thirty pounds more within 14
dayes from the date hereof and One Hundred pound
on or before the Middle of October next And one
hundred pounds more on or before the Twenty fifth
day of December next if said Brayton Can Possible
get s^ Hundred pounds or hyre the same on or before
that time if not then to pay on or before the the first
day of march next ensueing and allso on s^ first day of
march to pay s'l Little three Hundred & ninety pounds
unless sd Little shall then be deceased and uncapable
of giveing Deeds as aboves^ & niether he s^ Little nor
his heires executors nor Adminst" shall pass a Legall
Deed as afi'ores'^ In which case it is Muttually agreed
that sd Little or his heires Executrs or Adm" shall
Pay to s'' Brayton or his heires All the moneyes that
s^ Little or any by or under him shall Receive of said
16
THE BRAYTOiN HOMESTEAD
Brayton by virtue of these presents on or before the
s** first day of March with Interest for the same
& shall
after these presents
And it is further agreed if s'^ Brayton pay the ninety
pounds before mentioned on the first day of have
to be conbinned in bond a year longer upon Interest)
And after doth covenant & bind himself his
heires ex" (at the interest now ing said deed) on
or before s'^ first day of March next upon suflFe-
cient bonds & security for the paym* of three hundred
to said Little his heires execut" & Adm"^^ viz*
fifty pounds each year from thence on the first day of
March till s'^ three hundred pounds be fully payd To
the true performance of have said covenant &
obligation on his part. The s*^ Brayton doth bind &
obldg himself his heires executors & Adm" in the
penal sum of fifteen Hundred pounds forfeited on
failure therein and payd to s'* Little his heires execu-
tors & Adminis".
In witness whereof the partyes to these presents
have Interchangeably set their hands and scales the
day and year aboves'*.
Signed sealed and delivered] William Little (S)
In presence of us ( Preserved Brayton (S)
William Anthony
Mathew howard
17
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
In one disposition of the land in Rhode
Island owned by Preserved Brayton and
dated August 5, 1714, he is called "of Ports-
mouth," while in another, dated November
13, 1714, he is termed "late of Portsmouth."
These references certify to us, within a few
months, the time he estabUshed his residence
in Massachusetts.
The terms of agreement between Wilham
Little and Preserved Brayton proved satis-
factory and the deed, of which the following
is a copy, was signed and transferred on March
2, 1714/5:—
To all People to whom these presents shall come
Greeting Know ye that I William Little of Plimouth
in the County of Plimouth for & in Consideration of
the full and Just sum of nine hundred & ninety pounds
to me in hand well and truely payd by Preserved bray-
ton late of Portsmouth on Rhoad Island now of Swan-
zey in the County of Bristol y^ receipt whereof is
hereby acknowledged & the s"^ Brayton his heires &
assignes for ever Discharged have bargained and sold
18
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
and by these p'sents Do grant Enfeoff Convey and
Confirm unto the s'* Preserved Brayton his heires and
assigns forever all that a certaine ffarm or Tract of
land lyeing and being in Shawomet in the Township
of Swanzey Containing in the whole about one Hun-
dred Thirty seven or Thirty eight Acres more or less
being bounded on y'' East by Taunton River on the
North by the lands of William Slead on the south and
west by the Roads or wayes Excepting halfe a forty
five accre lott of William Sleade contained within s"^
boundaryes the granted premises containing more
perticularly two forty five acre lotts being in Number
the Eleventh & Twelfth Lotts in the first Divission
in the great neck Allso the one half a forty five acre
Lot being the Tenth in number Adjoyning to the
afores"* Eleventh lott being the southerly half as it is
now divided And allso the one halfe of forty eight
acre lott being y® Thirteenth lott in the afores^ divi-
sion yet undivided in partnership with William Slead
and allso a small lott or Addetion of about three acres
more or less Included within the Bounderyes of s"^
ffarm Lyeing within or below said High as may more
fully appear upon the Records kept for the Proprie-
ty of s^ Shawomett Purchass To which these presents
have Speciall Refference for the more perticular
bounds of s"" lotts of land Together with all buildings
ffences orchards & all profits priviledges & appur*"'
19
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
allso one share or Right in the eighty acres in s*^ Shaw-
omet layd out for the use of the ministry or use of the
Proprietors in s"* Shawomet To Have and to Hold all
the said Tennement Messuage or farm above granted
with all the s*^ Appurtenances & s** Share in said
Eighty Acres unto him the s'^ Preserved Brayton his
heires & assignes forever To his and their sole proper
use benefit and behoofF forever free & cleare and
clearely acquited & Dyscharged off and from all other
and former gifts grants bargaines sales Titles Troubles
Charges and Encumbrances What so ever and I
the said William Little do covenant Grant and agree
to & with the s<^ Preserved Brayton his heires and as-
signes that I have good right full power and lawfull
authoritie to grant bargain & confirm the above said
premises with the Appurtenances unto the said Bray-
ton his heires and assignes forever And Do Warrant &
Engage to maintaine the sale above and to defend the
s*^ Preserved Brayton his heires and assigns in his &
theire quiet & peaceable emjoyment of the premises
Against the Leagall Claimes & Demands of all persons
whatsoever In witness whereof I the said WilUam
Little have hereunto set my Hand and seal this first
day of March Anno Domini 1714
15
Memorandon the word (by Preserved Brayton late
of Portsmouth in Rhoad Island now of Swanzey in the
20
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
County of Bristol) between the fourth & fifth lines of
this Instrument were enterd before signeing
Signed, sealed & delivered
in presence of us William Little (S)
Ephraim Cole Jun""
Lemuel Little
The successive changes of ownersliip of the
lots contained within these bounds, and also
the phrases employed in these articles of agree-
ment in which Isaac Little and his son WilUam
are caUed "of Marshfield" or "of Plymouth,"
lead us to beheve that heretofore no dwelUng
had been erected upon the land, and that the
soil had received little if any tillage. We do
not know how much of this land was over-
grown with forests which Preserved Brayton
cleared away, yet we can rightly judge that
many acres were covered with rocks similar to
those in some of the adjoining fields today,
and which are of a peculiar formation of spe-
cial interest to the geologist; instead of the or-
21
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
dinary stone formation, these rocks, called
conglomerates or pudding-stone, are composed
of small stones held together by fine rock
material which has hardened into a sort of
cement. "Their presence in certain places is
a lost page in Geology. "
While we are uncertain of the exact date
when the first house was built, we find evidence
of its foundation upon which site has been
placed a stone, presumably the old stepping
stone of the original dwelling. "The Great
Room," "in the Southeast corner," "the
chamber over said rooms," "the great door,"
"through the entry and up the stairs to the
chamber overhead, " " to cook in the Kitchen, "
and "store meat and sauce in the cellar,"
form for us only a fragmentary description of
that first house upon the hill to which Pre-
served Brayton brought his wife and two
older children, and which was the birthplace
of his younger children.
22
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
In 1724, Preserved Brayton enlarged his
farm by purchasing of WiUiam Slade the
south half of the original lot 13 and half the
roadway between the 13th and 14th lots, thus
making the whole of the Homestead Farm
about one hundred and sixty-eight acres. The
deed of tliis sale reads as follows : —
To all People to whom this Present Deed of sale
shall come I William Slade of Showomock Purchase in
ye County of bristol in ye province of the masachusits
bay in newengland yeoman sendeth greeting &c Know
ye that I ye sd William Slade for and in consideration
of the sum of three Hundred & thirty pounds in Cur-
rant money of said newengland to me in hand well &
truly Paid by Preserved Brayton of sd Showomock
Purchase in the County and Province aforesd in sd
newengland yeoman the Recept whereof I do hereby
acknowledg and ye sd Preserved Brayton his heirs exe-
cutors & administrators hereof and of every patr &
persel hereof acquited & Discharged Have & by these
Presents Do for myself and my heirs fully freely and
absolutely Give Grant Bargain sell ahne enfeofe and
Confirm unto him ye sd Preserved Brayton his heirs
23
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
and assigns forever one half of ye thirtenth Lot ye
whole Lot being forty five acors in it and a high way of
four Rods wide Lying between ye Aforesd thirtenth
Lot and the fourtenth Lot being in sd Showomock in
ye County afore the above sd Lands are bounded as
fully appears in ye Book of Records Keep for ye Pro-
prietors of sd Showomock to which these Presents
have Reference to for bounds.
To have and to hold the above Land with all ye fen-
sing timber wood and all what so is on sd Lands with
all and singular ye Rights Priviledges and appurte-
nances thereunto belonging to him ye sd Preserved
Brayton his heirs & assigns forever to his and there a-
lone Proper use benifit & behoof forever and I ye sd
William Slade Do by these Presents avouch myself to
be at ye time of the ensealing and til ye Delivery of
these presents to have a good and Lawful title to ye
above Demised Premises and do by these Presents
bind & oblige myself & my heirs to warrant ye sd De-
mised Premises unto the above sd Preserved brayton
his heirs & assigns in the quiet and Peasable injoyment
of the same to Defend against ye Lawfull Clames and
Demands of all Persons whatsoever.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth Day of August one thousand seven
hundred & twenty four and in ye eleventh year of his
majesties Reign George King of Great Britten &c
24
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Signed, sealed & Delivered William Slad (S)
in ye Presents of us
Abraham Anthony
William Anthony
The total purchase price of the farm, as
paid by Preserved Bray ton, was, therefore,
tliirteen hundred and twenty pounds. As-
suming that the colonial pound (whose value
today would be about three and one tliird
dollars) was used in these transactions, the
amount paid for the Homestead Farm would
be about forty-four hundred dollars of our
money.
Preserved Brayton was a true lover of the
soil, and for forty-seven years after his re-
moval to Swansea, as we shall now call it, was
spared to enjoy the fruits of liis labors upon
the place he termed the Homestead Farm, all
unconscious of adopting a name that would
be perpetuated for so many generations. At
the time of his death in Swansea on May 21,
25
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
1761, Preserved Bray ton was an extensive
landholder, as the following copy of his will
proves to us: —
I, Preserved Brayton of Swansey in the County of
Bristol and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New
England Yoeman being infirm in Body but of a well
and sound desposing Mind and Memory, God be
thanked I do make and ordain this my Last Will and
Testament in the following Manner and Form Viz —
Imprimis I will that all my just Debts and fu-
neral Charges be paid by my Executor hereafter
named.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter
Ehzabeth Bobbinson Daughter of my son John Bray-
ton deceased the Sum of one thousand pounds Bills
of Credit of Bhode Island Currency old tenor five hun-
dred pounds one year after my decease and five hun-
dred pounds two years after my decease to be paid by
my son Israel Brayton I also give her a certain piece
of land lying in Freetown in the Freemen's Purchase
as by deed may appear Containing fifty acres, to her
& her assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my grandson Pre-
served Brayton son of my son Stephen Brayton de-
ceased a certain Farm commonly known by the name
26
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
of Rock River Farm lying in Rehobotli where my son
Stephen did dwell bounded as followeth ; beginning at
a Great Rock a little westerly of the Mill, then west-
erly a strait line to a stone stuck upon the Ditch on the
west side of the High Way, from thence on a strait
line to a cedar stuck in the Marsh and then by Palmer
River, southerly till it cometh to Simon Rurr's land
and then easterly by Rurr's land to the High Way and
so across said Way and by a lane that leads from said
Way to John Kingsley's land and from thence by his
land to the south end of the Mill Dam and from said
dam to the Great Rock first mentioned with all the
buildings and priveledges to the same belonging with
a certain wood lot which I bought of Samuel Rullock,
to him his heirs & assigns forever, he delivering to his
Mother two loads of salt hay every yeeir during her
widowhood.
Item. I give and devise to my grandson Stephen
Rrayton son of my son Stephen Rrayton deceased, a
certain piece of land which I bought of John Rarney
together with a piece of land lying on the west side of
the highway from a stone stuck in the ditch on a
strait line to a cedar stake stuck on the Marsh and so
by the River as it runs to a lot of land formerly John
Miller's, easterly to the highway, so along the way to
a stone stuck in the ground, thence across the way to
a stone stuck in the ground, from thence on a strait
27
THE BRAYTOX HO.AIESTEAD
line to a Great Rock near the mill and from said Rock
to the south end of the dam and by the River untill
it Cometh to Aarin Kingsleys land and so by said
Kingsleys Land untill it cometh to Rounds land, and
so by Rounds land down to the highway, so by said
way to a stone set in the ground together with the
house and mill and dam and all the preveledges to
support the mill and all other preveledges to the same
belonging to him his heirs and assigns forever, he de-
livering to his mother one load of salt hay every yea r
during her widowhood.
Item. I give and bequeath equally to be divided
to my four grandchildren the children of my son
Stephen Rrayton deceased and to each of their heirs
and assigns forever three lots of land I bought of
Joseph Allen lying in Swansey as by deed may appear.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Baulston
Brayton his heirs and assigns forever all that my farm
lying in Smithfield in the Rhoad Island Colony where
he now dwells which I bought of James Angell as more
at large appears by deed together with all priviledges
to the same belonging he paying his assigned legacies
and I also give him one thousand dollars and three
thousand pounds in bills of credit Old tenor of the
Colony of Rhoad Island; and he shall pay to my
grandson Stephen Brayton two thousand and four
hundred pounds in like bills of old tenor Rhoad Island
28
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
currency when he cometh to age of twenty one years
and my son Baulston shall have the use of my grand-
son Stephen's land and mill untill he cometh to the
age of twenty one years.
Item. My will is that if my grandson Stephen
should die before he cometh to the age of twenty one
years or with out issue his brother Preserved shall
have his portion.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Israel Bray-
ton and to his heirs and assigns forever all this my
Homestead Farm and all the priviledges to the same
belonging and all my hving stock and farming tools
and tackUng and my negro man CufFe and negro man
Ned and negro woman Floris and negro boy Moses;
I also give him all my farm in Swansea in the Purchase
of Sewomit between the land of James Luther and the
land where John Reed did dwell with all the privi-
ledges to the same belonging to him his heirs and as-
signs forever. I also give him all my moveable estate
in my house excepting what I shall otherwise despose
of in this my last will and testament and three hun-
dred and ninety two dollars which Samuel Lee Jr.
oweth me upon note.
Item. I give to my daughter Content Gardner one
silver Tankard six silver porringers and twelve silver
spoons and eight hundred dollars, to her or her legal
representatives.
29
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
lUm. I give to my several grand-daughters ten
dollars apiece that is to say my executor shall pay to
each and ever>" one of my grand-daughters as they
come to the age of eighteen years and if any of them
should die before they come to the age of eighteen
years my will is that the surviN-ing sisters of the same
family should have their part.
Item. I give all my apparel equally to my sons
namely Baulston and Israel Brayton.
I also give all the rest and residue of my estate to my
three children equally that is to say to Baulston
Bra>-ton. Israel Bra>-ton and Content Gardner and to
their heirs and assigns forever.
Finally I do make constitute and ordain my two
sons Baulston Bra\i:on and Israel Brayton to be the
sole executors of this my last will and testament. In
witness whereof I the said Preserved Brayton have
set mv hand and seal this seventh dav of December
Anno Domini 1759.
Joshua Mason \ r»_ j t> ^
f Preserved Brayton
Men Chase / witnesses
Russell Mason )
From this we readilv leam whv Israel, the
youngest son, inherited the Homestead Farm.
Preserved 's wife and their children Ann and
30
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
David were not living; their sons John and
Stephen had also died, leaving their famiUes
estabhshed elsewhere ; their daughter Content
had married and moved awav ; their son Baul-
ston was alreadv a resident of Smithfield,
Rhode Island; while Israel, their youngest
child, was still a young man and had not left
Swansea, although he had married and may
not have hved on the farm at that time.
Israel Bravton, son of Preserved and Con-
tent Brayton, was born on the Homestead
Farm, October 13, 1727, and on April 19,
1752, married Mary Perry, who, tradition
claims, was a relative of Ohver Hazard Perrs*.
Israel, like liis father, was a holder of lands
and a tiller of the soil. In addition to the
Homestead Farm, he acquired other property
in Swansea, including a shipyard and land he
purchased in 1766 from Samuel Lee. In 1759
he bought from Richard and Susanna Gifford
a large farm of one hundred and eighty acres
31
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
in Tiverton, which, at the time of his death,
he gave to his son Baulston Brayton.
Israel had profited by his father's constant
toil of almost half a century. Land that had
been so thickly covered with boulders had
been transformed into productive acreage, the
forests had been cleared of the underbrush,
the growth of centuries, and the improvements
commenced by the father were continued by
the son.
The births of the children of Israel and
Mary (Perry) Brayton are found upon the
Swansea records and their marriages may be
of interest to those familiar with the cogno-
mens of that town, showing, as they do, the
uniting of many of its prominent and famihar
names. Content married Captain Nathan
Read, son of Wilham; John, born April 12,
1762, married Sarah Bowers, daughter of
Phihp; Mary married Phihp Bowers, brother
of Sarah; Bethany became the first wife of
32
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Dr. John Winslow ; Baulston married Mercy
Slade, daughter of John; David and Perry
died in their youth ; w hile no records have been
found in regard to the cliildren Israel and
Preserved.
Israel Bray ton married, for his second
wife, Mrs. Mary Read Bowers, (sister of
Nathan Read) mother of Sarah and Pliilip
Bowers mentioned above, and their children,
Nathan Read and Perry Bowers (twins) and
Nancy, died before reaching their majority.
It is impossible to chronicle the events in
the daily hfe of Israel Bray ton who died, pre-
sumably upon the Homestead Farm, in the
year 1791. His widow, Mrs. Mary (Read
Bowers) Brayton, married, for her tliird hus-
band, Ebenezer Dean of Taunton.
By will dated April 13, 1784, Israel Bray-
ton gives, "To my son John Brayton and
to his heirs and assigns forever all this my
homestead farm with all the priviledges to
33
THE BRAYTON HOxMESTEAD
the same belonging with two thirds of all my
living stock he paying what I do order liim
to pay in this will," and "I also give my said
wife the use and improvement of one third
part of all my real estate." In 1792, Mary
Brayton, widow of Israel, gave to John Bray-
ton all right to her tliird in the Homestead
Farm.
The hfe of John Bravton held more diversi-
fied interests than those of liis parents or
grandparents. Before entering his teens the
atmosphere was filled with the spirit of unrest,
and although he was just tliirteen when the
War of the Revolution broke out, and there-
fore too young to enlist, he could not help
being interested in the subject uppermost in
the hearts of the people. Again the Home-
stead Farm was on the route of travel. The
fort, called Fort Barton, built on Tiverton
Heights, commanded a Avide-spread view of
the British stationed at Bristol Ferry, and
34
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
was a rendezvous for the American troops, ten
thousand of w horn were quartered there at one
time. Many of the troops, on their way to
Tiverton, crossed the Taunton River at
Slade's ferry and thus came very near the
home of Israel Brayton. One night a company
camped not far distant and the next morning,
in fining their canteens, drew the well dry at
the Homestead Farm. One canteen, acciden-
tally left, is now in existence and is in the pos-
session of one of the present owners of the
Homestead Farm, the great-great-grandson
of Israel.
The war brought great deprivation to the
inhabitants of the towns round about and, in
1779, there was a great scarcity of provisions,
and these sold at very high prices. The
following winter the intense cold caused much
suffering and for two months the ice completely
locked the rivers and bay. The price of
wood advanced to twenty dollars per cord and
35
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
corn sold at four silver dollars a bushel. It
was during this winter that John Brayton,
not yet eighteen years of age, "Loaded wood
upon sleds at his farm and with oxen drew the
same in a direct line upon the ice to Newport. "
We find that his youthful interest in the
Revolutionary War continued and when only
eighteen years old he enhsted, on August 2,
1780, in Captain Peleg Peck's Company of
Colonel Thomas Carpenter's regiment.
On September 21, 1782, John Brayton
married Sarah Bowers, the daughter of Pliilip
Bowers, a hneal descendant of three of the
passengers who came to America on the first
voyage of the Mayflower in 1620. The rec-
ords of the eleven children of John and Sarah
(Bowers) Brayton were as follows: — (1).
Mary married, as his second wife. Dr. John
Winslow. They had ten children, one of whom
became the fu-st wife of Jonathan Slade and
lived upon the farm adjoining the Brayton
36
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Homestead. (2). Sarah married Benjamin
Clark Cornell. Their daughter married
Charles Hull Norton, and hved in Oliio. (3) .
WiUiam Bowers, born February 2, 1788, was
drowned at sea January 16, 1805. (4). Nancy
Jaret Bowers became the second wife of David
Anthony. Their cliildren were Lauretta Bish-
op Wheaton, James Monroe, and Frederic
Augustus Anthony. (5). Israel Brayton born
July 29, 1792, mentioned later. (6). Betsey
W. died in the fifth year of her age. (7).
Content died in Fall River, February 6, 1872,
in her seventv-fifth vear. She never married.
(8). Stephen married, first, Mary H. Gray
and, second, her sister, Abby Gray. His chil-
dren Mary H. and Wilham G. died in infancy,
and his son, John Gray Brayton, died in CaU-
fornia in 1903, unmarried. (9). John Jr.
died in his youth. (10). CaroUne was ten
years old at the time of her death. (11). Al-
mira married Captain Jesse Chace. They had
37
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
three children: EHzabeth Collins Chace, who
married Anson B. Ives; John Brayton Chace,
who died young; and Almira Fehcia Agnes
Chace, who died in Newport, R. I. January 13,
1898, unmarried.
In 1790, the town of Somerset was set apart
from Swansea so that the births of the three
oldest children are found upon the Swansea
records and those of the younger ones occurred
in the town of Somerset. We have now located
the Brayton Homestead in three different
places, namely: Shawomet, which was con-
quered from the Indians diu-ing King Pliihp 's
War; Swansea (incorrectly spelled Swanzey
and Swansey, as it was named for the town of
Swansea in Wales) to which Shawomet had
been annexed ; and Somerset, its present name,
which was set apart from Swansea in 1790, and
which, in the sketch of Somerset by Avery P.
Slade, we are told was named in honor of Mrs.
Jarathmael Bowers, the home of whose girl-
38
<
!>
::4
THE BRAYTON HO.MESTEAD
hood was Somerset Square, Boston.
John Brayton, finding the dweUing of his
parents and grandparents inadequate, de-
cided to erect a new home for his growing
family. The site was selected and the pres-
ent house was built about 1796. Although
not commanding as extensive a view of the
Bay, it was more accessible to the ferry and
highway which had been opened; yet we
should remember that the first road was upon
the crest of the hill and therefore the first
entrance must have been from the west so
that the original house was equally conven-
ient in its location.
The plates give us an idea of the exterior,
and within we find the arrangement of the
rooms similar to other dwelhngs of that
period. We do not know just how long the
original house stood upon the liill, but early
in the last century a part of it was moved
near the new house and can he remembered bv
39
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
many of us familiar with the farm in later
years.
In 1802, eighteen years after the establish-
ment of the Methodist Church in America,
one was organized in the southern part of
Somerset, and in 1804 a chapel was built near
the site of the church now standing at the
corner of Read Street and Brayton Point
Road. Although not one of the seven original
founders of that church, John Brayton was
the first person to join after its organization
and he became one of its most useful and in-
fluential members. He contributed generously
to its support and extended cordial hospi-
tahty to the itinerant ministers. At the Cen-
tenary Celebration of that church held March
2, 1902, as a memorial to John Brayton, liis
grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave to
the church the sum of fifteen hundred dollars,
the income to be used for the support of the
gospel.
40
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
John Braytoii did not round out the allotted
three score years and ten, but died March
12, 1829, in his sixty-seventh year. Although
he did not extend the Homestead Farm be-
yond the bounds of his inheritance, we find
from the inventory of liis estate that the area
of tliis farm was one hundred and seventy-
five acres, a difference of about seven acres
which may have been adjusted in the more
accurate survey of more modern times. We
also learn, that not only had he taken interest
in the cultivation of the soil, but also in rais-
ing live stock on a small scale and, at the time
of his death, had thirty-four head of cattle
and sixty sheep in addition to several horses.
The farm was well equipped with tools, the
stores in the cellar were still abundant after
the long winter, and the house was well fur-
nished with what are now considered choice
antiques.
John Brayton left no will, so that his widow
41
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
and children acquired the Homestead Farm
by the right of inheritance. We assume that
the son Stephen assisted liis mother in the
oversight of the farm until his death in 1832,
after which the responsibiHty fell upon the
son Israel. BetAveen December 1833 and
March 1837, the heirs of John Brayton, ex-
cept Sarah his widow, sold their interests in
the Homestead Farm, one to the other, wliich
ultimately came into the possession of their
brother Israel and here he estabhshed liis
residence with his wife and cliildren. After
the death of Sarah Bowers Brayton, widow
of John, wliich occurred on the farm August
17, 1843, Israel Brayton became its sole pro-
prietor.
On August 19, 1813, Israel Brayton had
married Kezia Anthony, the daughter of
David and Submit Wheeler Anthony. The
marriage took place at the Anthony Home-
stead on Lees River Avenue, Somerset, which
42
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
was bought about 1703 by her paternal ances-
tor, WilKam Anthony, whose wife Mary was
sister of Content Coggeshall, the wife of
Preserved Brayton, the first occupant of the
Bray ton Homestead.
The nine children of Israel and Kezia
Anthony Brayton were as follows : —
(1). Mary, who married 1st. Major Brad-
ford Durfee, 2nd. Rev. Jeremiah S. Young.
She had one son, Bradford MatthcAV Ghaloner
Durfee, who died, unmarried, in liis tliirtieth
m
vear.
(2). Wilham Bowers, who married Hannah
T. Lawton, of Tiverton. Their cliildren were
Julia Washburn, George Anthony, Mary, and
W ilham Bowers Brayton.
(3). Nancy Jarrett Bowers, who married
Daniel Chace of Somerset. Their only child,
Charles Bradford, died in his youth.
(4). Ehzabeth Anthony, who married Rev.
Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, a native of Maine.
43
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Their cliildren were Harriet Washburn, Ros-
well Dwiglit, Mary Brayton, and Bradford
Washburn Hitchcock.
(5). David Anthony, who married Nancy
R. Jenckes of Fall River. Their cliildren
were Nannie Jenckes, David Anthony, John
Jenckes, Ehzabeth Hitchcock, and Dana
D wight Brayton.
(6). John Summerfield, who married Sarah
J. Tinkham of Middleborough. Their children
were Mary Jarette, Harriet Hitchcock, and
John Summerfield Bravton.
(7). Israel Perry, who married Parthenia
Gardner of Somerset. They had two cliildren.
Their oldest daughter, Nancy Jarrett Bowers,
is the only lineal descendant of Preserved
Brayton, of this generation, who can claim the
Brayton Homestead as the place of her birth.
Their other daughter, Sarah Chaloner, was
born in Swansea.
(8). Hezekiah Anthony, who married
44
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Caroline E. Slade of Somerset. Their cliildren
were Caroline Slade, Abby Slade, William
Lawton Slade, Israel, Mary Durfee, Stanley,
Arthur Perry, Margaret Lee, Dorothy, and
Katharine Bray ton.
(9). Sarah Submit, unmarried, who is
the only surviving cliild of Israel and Kezia
Anthony Bray ton.
During the first years of their residence in
Somerset the sons in tiu^n assisted their father
in carrying on the farm. Within a short time,
however, they formed business interests else-
where and one after another left home, even-
tually locating in Fall River, except Israel
Perry who returned to the farm where he re-
sided for a few years after his marriage.
Israel Brayton, although now following the
occupation of his forefathers, did not reUn-
quish all interest in the associations formed
during his residence in Swansea and Fall
River. He continued his membership in the
45
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Central Congregational Church of that city
and was one of its most regular attendants,
even after his removal to Somerset. After a
useful and honorable hfe he died upon the
Homestead Farm November 5, 1866. The
following is a copy of an article printed in the
Fall River News November 9, 1866: —
"The funeral services of Israel Brayton, Esq., took
place yesterday forenoon, at his late residence in
South Somerset. There was a very large attendance
of relatives, neighbors and friends, from this city,
Somerset and other places. The religious services at
the house, which were very appropriate and impres-
sive, were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Hyde, of the
Methodist church. South Somerset, and the Rev. Dr.
Thm-ston, of this city, of whose church Mr. Brayton
was a member. The Rev. Dr. Hitchcock, of New
York, a son-in-law of Mr. Brayton, offered prayer at
the grave. It was a scene long to be remembered, as
the family and friends gathered around the grave on
that serene and most beautiful Indian summer morn-
ing, and united with bowed heads and sympathizing
hearts in the simple, heartfelt, and deeply impressive
prayer which was there offered ; and we could but feel
46
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
how grand a lesson is taught us when a good man is
called from earth to heaven; a man who has filled the
measure of his days in his Master's service, and whose
memory will be cherished by his friends and kindred
as among the best of earthly treasures. "
Many changes occurred in the fifteen years
wliich foIIoAved the death of Israel Brayton.
For over one hundred and fifty years, from
1724 when the last lot was added to the farm
until 1875, no additions had been made to its
acreage, neither had any been taken away.
The farm extended from the highway on the
west to the river on the east, unbroken by any
roads save by the cart paths of their own
making.
With more modern times the advancement
from a ferry boat to a bridge proved necessary
and the first structure of its kind across Taun-
ton River, since known as Slade's Ferry
Bridge, was planned. The site chosen for its
western terminus was upon the Homestead
47
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Farm, midway of its eastern boundary. The
result was a combination bridge, with the sec-
tion for traffic and pedestrians below, while
on top ran the steam cars of the Old Colony
Railroad. This bridge was completed and
opened to the pubhc on January 4, 1876.
The approaches to it from the south, the
north, and the northwest, all new roads, neces-
sarily had to cross the Homestead Farm, and
for their construction two hundred and twenty
rods, one hundred and sixty-one rods, and two
hundred and two rods, respectively, were sold
to the town of Somerset, the last forming a
part of the road now called Brayton Avenue.
Seven hundred rods were also sold to the rail-
road for its extension toward its former ter-
minus at the south ferry, and upon this land
the railroad estabhshed a small station,
called Brayton.
Upon the farm new fences and walls were
built; many trees were set out, including the
48
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
row of stately elms extending from the house
to the bridge ; some of the old buildings were
taken down; and other incidental improve-
ments made.
Kezia Anthony Brayton, widow of Israel,
was the last of the family to reside perma-
nently upon the Homestead Farm, where she
died on October 24, 1880, in her eighty-ninth
year. At that time she was said to be the
oldest person in the town of Somerset.
For some time after her death the house-
hold furnisliings were not disturbed, and
during several summers the family continued
to make the Homestead Farm the scene of
occasional re-unions, reluctant to give up all
associations with the old home. The last of
those gatherings occurred in the summer of
1889, and some time afterward the rooms, so
long unoccupied, were dismantled of their
treasures, which were distributed among the
children and grandcliildren. A few of the ar-
49
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
tides were — the Brayton family Bible dated
1772, which was given to Sarah Brayton (wife
of John) by her uncle Benjamin Bowers; the
Pembroke table ; the wooden cradle, with its
hood marked "M. R. 1728," from the Read-
Bowers line ; the old tall clock, which had for
generations marked the passing of time;
great-great-grandmother Dean's writing desk;
the carved high four-poster ; the Read pepper
box; several mirrors and innumerable chairs
of antique designs ; the old brass andirons ; the
Revolutionary canteen, previously mentioned;
and many other choice pieces, each with its
history.
Since that time, the house has been occu-
pied by the farmer, to whom the care of the
farm is entrusted.
Israel Brayton left no will and this farm
was not divided for thirteen years after the
death of his widow. During that time, how-
ever, the sons Wilham, David, and Israel
50
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Perry % or their heirs, sold their interests to
other members of the family. By will, the
daughter Mary, who died in 1891, left two-
eighths of the Homestead Farm to her brother
Hezekiah, the same to go to liis sons Israel
and Arthur after his death, and her remaining
one-eighth to her brother John.
In 1893 the first division of the farm was
made among those in whose names, either by
direct inheritance, by purchase, or by bequest,
the property still remained. At that time the
dividing hnes were definitely defined and each
owner acquired title to a specified part, which
was partitioned, not by equal acreage but by
valuation.
After the death of the daughter Ehzabeth
Hitchcock, her inheritance became the property
of her son Bradford, who some years after-
ward sold it to liis cousin Stanley Brayton;
and after liis death his parents deeded it to his
brother Arthur, the present owner. After the
51
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
death of the son John his three-eighths inter-
est, which included the northeast section of the
Homestead Farm with the buildings thereon,
came into the possession of liis son John, its
present owner. The son Hezekiah deeded his
part inherited from his father to his son Israel,
to whom the daughter Sarah also transferred
her interest in the farm.
Thus we see that the Homestead Farm, al-
though still belonging to the Bray ton name,
is not intact. This land which fifty years ago
stood in the name of Israel Brayton alone, is
today divided among three of his grand-
children, John Summerfield, Israel, and Arthur
Perry Brayton.
The ownership of the Brayton Homestead
has now been traced from the time the red men
claimed its title to the present day, and in so
doing the tradition aa hich has come to us, that
it came into the Brayton name directly from
the Indians, has been destroyed.
52
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
Let us today visit the farm, entering from
the road upon the crest of the hill. The for-
ests have been cleared away long since, save
for a small acreage of timber known as "The
Bray ton Woods," a grove of tall oak trees,
partially cleared of its underbrush, and be-
tween whose boughs we see one large boulder
of conglomerate rock, the picnic scene of by-
gone years. The land north of the grove is
still untilled, and from its bushes are gathered,
in the late summer, most delicious berries.
Going eastward, we see cultivated fields, some
with growing corn or potatoes, while others
are kept for grazing purposes, but the greater
part of the land is used for raising hay for the
cattle in winter. In our walk we come to a
very small plot of ground enclosed by a gran-
ite curbing, and we at once wonder at its pres-
ence, so remote its location and so undefined
its piu-pose. Within this enclosure are biu-ied
the slaves who had been the faithful family
53
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
servants for years. Possibly here lie " Cuffe, "
"Ned," "Floris," and "Moses" mentioned
in Preserved Bray ton's will, and also Rose
and Ginnie Avhose names have come down to
us through generations. Israel Brayton, in
his will made in 1784, made no mention of
slaves, so we presume that they were no longer
owned at the farm.
After passing a few cattle grazing upon
the liillside, our attention is drawn to the
buildings upon the farm, which are built with-
in a small area, that they may be more ac-
cessible. They include the hay barn, stable,
two cribs, shed and poultry houses, in addi-
tion to the house, which is natiu'ally the
centre of attraction, substantial and dignified
in its new white paint and green bhnds.
Here we pause and note the many changes
which have been made on and about the farm
during the past thirty-five years. The stable
and poultry houses have been erected; the
54
Q
<
a
H
tn
* >
o "5
> O
u
9
H
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
well-sweep has been taken down; the large
old Enghsh walnut tree, under whose branches
the tables, bountifully supphed for the family
gatherings, were formerly spread, is no longer
in sight ; many maple trees have been set along
the roads ; electric cars now run upon Bray ton
and Riverside Avenues, thus affording direct
communication with Fall River, Swansea and
Somerset ; telephone poles have been erected,
electric hghts installed,and gas pipes laid in
Somerset so that many conveniences of a city
are now accessible.
For the purpose of abohshing the grade
crossing at Wilbur Avenue, and in anticipa-
tion of a new bridge, the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad, the lessee of
the Old Colony Railroad, purchased in 1911,
about one hundred and sixty-eight rods of
land from the owners of the Homestead Farm.
Upon a part of this, at the north and west of
the railroad track, now equipped with elec-
55
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
tricity, has been constructed a new liighway,
wliich will soon be under control of the State,
as are Brayton and Riverside Avenues.
We now recall with much pleasure the last
re-union held here on June 17, 1911. Our
thoughts were filled with reminiscences which
we, now the older generation, took deUght in
relating to the children, some of whom had
never before visited this home of their ances-
tors, where we had spent so many happy hours
of our youth. Over twenty years had passed
since those frequent family gatherings and our
hearts were touched with sadness as we missed
the faces of our loved ones who had shared
those pleasures with us.
As we retrace our steps and look once more
across these acres, we are impressed with our
incomplete knowledge of the fives of our ances-
tors and long for an insight into the past.
The stone walls, dividing the fields into pas-
tures of various dimensions, are mute remin-
56
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
ders of the labors of five generations. Just
when the first stones were laid in their foun-
dations we know not, yet some time in their
early history " God's Acre, " which we see in a
quiet spot upon the hillside, must have been
set apart.
"I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls
The burial-ground God's Acre! It is just,
It consecrates each grave within its walls,
And breathes a benison o'er the sleeping dust. "
We find within this enclosure today twenty-
three of those early graves marked only by the
low slate stones which indicate their position,
while inscriptions are carved upon the more
recent ones in memory of John Bray ton;
Sarah, liis wife; Content; John Jr. ; Carohne;
Betsey W.; Stephen; Mary, his wife; Israel;
and Kezia, his wife. Upon the stone of John
Brayton is also a record of his son W iUiam's
death at sea, and upon Stephen's stone that
57
THE BRAYTON HOMESTEAD
of liis daughter Mary H.w ho died in her youth.
We shall never know who first was buried
within these walls but inanv of us recall that
last solemn service held on October 28, 1880
when our grandmother Kezia Anthony
Brayton was laid beside her husband. Let us
remember that those who rest here held in
deep affection this farm, which was to them in
truth their home, to us the home of our ances-
tors, and to the community, for generations,
"The Brayton Homestead."
58
3FaU fitopr, iHaaaarljUHftla
nr
Do Not
Circulate
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiini
3 1197 21319 0165
130 AOor aRCU.u^T£